what are the side effects

Taken from the AIDS info net website:

What Are the Side Effects? When you start any ART, you may have temporary side effects such as headaches, high blood pressure, or just feeling ill. These side effects usually get better or disappear over time.

The most common side effects are rash, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, headache and insomnia. Taking efavirenz with food increases drug levels and may increase side effects.

To avoid dizziness after taking efavirenz, take it before you go to sleep. Some people have vivid dreams. For most people, these side effects disappear within the first two weeks.

About 5% of patients taking efavirenz had serious psychiatric symptoms. If you are taking efavirenz and experience serious depression or other psychiatric symptoms, talk to your health care provider right away.

If you have had hepatitis B or C, your liver function tests may increase significantly. These should be monitored carefully.

Studies in monkeys showed that efavirenz is likely to cause birth defects. Pregnant women should not take it, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

People who take efavirenz may falsely test positive for use of marijuana or benzodiazepines, tranquilizers like Xanax, Valium or Librium. To prove that the results are false, you would have to identify the drug that you are taking. This would mean disclosing that you have HIV infection.

KH